Brassiere



July 8, 1941. Q Y

BRASSIERE Filed Feb. 27, 1940 3nventor: OSCAR. HAY.

89 t E fl Gttomeg.

Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,248,300 BRASSIERE Oscar Hay, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 2'], 1940, Serial No. 321,071

11 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in brassires or bust supports, and more particularly pertains to an improved construction of a brassire or similar garment that is especially suitable for the average developed or well developed or heavy-busted woman.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel brassiere which is adapted to support the bust in its natural position, and which may also be adjusted if desired to mold the bust so as to accentuate the contour thereof in a manner dictated by present trends of fashions or to a desired position suited to the needs of the wearer, but particularly, in the provision of a brassire whereby the bust will be given a proper uplift support as well as the proper separation without any undue strain or application of pressure upon the breasts.

Another object is to provide a novel brassire which when worn and which will combine the above features as well as to prevent separation of the bust when the wearer is in a stooped over position so that the breasts will not be exposed when the wearer is clothed in a low necked gown or dress.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel brassire whereby the breasts of the wearer will be supported in a natural and a comfortable position without unduly drawing the same together by pressure by the brassiere which has a tendency to deform the breasts or to break down the tissues thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel brassiere which will effectively distribute the lifting force acting upon the breasts from one shoulder to the other so that notwithstanding the position of the wearer the breasts will be properly supported in a comfortable position.

A still further object is to provide a novel brassire which when worn will support the breasts in an uplifted position and which may also be adjusted to mold the breasts in a desired contour and at the same time be adapted to be used by a wearer having breasts one of which may be smaller than the other to give a more equal appearance thereto.

It is another object of my invention to provide a novel brassiere which is simple in its construction, easy of adjustability, and economical in manufacture whereby the breasts may be supported in an uplifted position and at the same time held in a separated or normal position.

It is another object of my invention to provide a novel brassiere in which the constructional elements thereof are so arranged, associated, and cooperate with each other that the breasts of the wearer thereof may be uplifted to a predetermined degree and firmly and comfortably supported in a natural uplifted and supported position and in which the wearers breasts may be individually supported and uplifted by opposite shoulders of the wearer.

The invention resides in the construction and arrangement of the various parts and portions of the brassire and the combination of the elements and parts more particularly hereinafter described and claimed.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description, and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in a form I at present deem preferable.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my novel brassiere in extended position.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatic sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1 and showing details of construction.

My invention resides in providing a body encircling band I that is of any suitable soft flexible material, preferably non-stretchable such as satin or the like that has at its ends short elastic elements 2, 2' provided with any suitable component securing means, 3, 3', and one of the elastic elements may be provided with the usual adjustable means 4 to adapt the brassiere to various sizes of bust measurements, or if desired the elastic elements may be omitted and the band I made entirely of non-stretchable material although the elasticity of the short elements may provide for more easy expansion or contraction of the encircling band.

The body encircling band I is provided as shown at 5 and 6 with breast receiving pockets, the upper portions 5' and 6 of which may be made of lace and/or lined with suitable net work not shown.

The body encircling band as above described is preferably formed of the non-stretchable elements that are provided with under the arm seams a b to which are attached the back band section or belt portions c d to which the elastic or non-stretchable elements 2 and 2' are secured to provide the securing means of the brassiere that encircles the body of the wearer.

The brassiere is provided with the usual tape members I that are stitched around the exterior periphery thereof for strengthening purposes and the upper portion of the brassiere between the breasts as indicated at 8 and 9 is provided with a tubular portion I!) through which a cord or elastic tape ll extends and which is secured by tacking or stitching or in any other manner as at 12 to the apex of breast receiving cups and 6.

The garment is provided with the usual shoulder straps l3 which may be provided with adjustable means N that are connected to eyelets l5 secured by tape members Hi to the apex of the breast receiving pockets.

The lower portion of the breast receiving pockets are constructed by means of a dart or cut away portion l1 so as to properly shape the breast receiving pockets and secured thereto is a short tape member I8 connected to an eyelet l9 to which and to the under arm seams a b is connetted a sling-like element provided with adjustable means 2| whereby the length between the under arm seams and the cut away portion I! that is positioned centrally underneath the point of the breast and extends partially upwardly into the body encircling band and preferably terminates below the point of the breast thereby shaping the brassiere to the breast.

Connected to the seam IT at one end thereof is another sling-like element 2| which is connected at its other end 22 to an eyelet 23 through which the cord H is extended as shown in Figure 1 and such element 2| is also provided with adjustable means 24 to provide for adjustment thereof.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a novel brassiere having a body encircling element provided with breast receiving pockets 5 and 6 that are formed by the darts I! as well as the contours 25 of the body encircling band and associated with which I have provided a sling-like element l8, l9, and 20 which is connected to the body encircling band at a point approximately directly underneath the point of the breast and to the under arm seam a and which may be adjusted by virtue of the means 2| to properly position the point of the breast at a position desired by the wearer; and also I have provided in connection therewith a sling-like element 2| connected from the seam I! through adjustable means 24 to the eyelet 23 that supports the other side of the breast.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a novel brassire whereby the brassire will engage the body of the wearer with a minimum of metallic or objectionable connections so as to comfortably engage the body and in which means are provided whereby the breasts may be supported in an uplifted position by means of the sling-like element A that includes the elements I8, I9, 20, 2|; and 2|, 22, 24, and II.

It will further be observed that the sling-like elements A which give an uplift and support to the under side of the breast is connected at substantially the front mid-section of the garment to the eyelet 23 which in turn is supported by the tape II that is freely slidable through the eyelet 23 and the tubular portion 10 thereby providing means whereby the uplifting elements of one breast are connected through such construction to the shoulder strap supporting the opposite breast.

It will further be seen that from the foregoing described construction I have provided a novel brassire that will provide a requisite uplift and support necessary to prevent undue strain upon the breasts, and that the proper and adequate support and uplift is employed as a safeguard and means for retaining and conserving the natural and youthful configuration of bust lines as well as enabling the wearer to position the points of the breasts at a position desired by the wearer, as well as maintaining the breasts in a spread apart or natural position whereby a definite mark of separation of the breasts may be maintained.

It will also be noted that from the foregoing description and construction of my novel brassiere that even though the wearer may have breasts of different sizes by the provision of my novel uplift means and adjustability thereof the same may be uplifted and positioned so that from external resemblances they will have a uniformity of appearance.

It will also be noted that by my novel brassiere as hereinbefore described that the combination of the body encircling band and the breast uplifting elements A secured to the under arm seam and the center seam I1 and through the eyelet or slidable connection 23 to the tape or cord I l (which may be elastic or rigid) and which tape H is secured at its ends to the apex of the breast receiving pockets and will afford adjustability of the breasts of the wearer throughout various movements of the body and will also secure the upper line of the brassire close to the body of the wearer so that when the wearer bends forwardly there will be a flexibility of the uplift supports as well as the tape ll thereby closing the upward portion of thebrassiere and prevents exposure of the breasts from the top of the brassiere particularly when a person wears a low gown.

Thus it will be observed that each shoulder A contributes to the support of both breasts and that each breast is supported by both shoulders and that the degree of uplift and support may be adjustably determined to meet the convenience and requirements of the wearer and that the wearer may arrange for equal or unequal positioning of the points of the breasts regardless of size thereof and effect an adjustable and flexible support for each thereof notwithstanding body postures.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of my novel brassiere that many features or possibilities of general adaptation particularly with respect to whether or not my invention is incorporated in breast supporting devices or garments such as a bandeaux, surgical appliances, and combination garments whereby the brassiere may be incorporated with a foundation garment or corset.

Although I have described my invention as particularly adaptable and shown with respect to a brassiere nevertheless as before stated it may be employed in combination with other garments and many changes in details of construction and relative arrangements of parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art but drawing and description hereinbefore described are set forth by way of illustration to depict my invention and that such changes in construction that come within the terms defined by the claims hereunto appended shall be brought within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A garment comprising a body encircling band, means to secure the same around the body of the wearer, said band having breast receiving pockets terminating in an under arm seam; shoulder straps connected to the apex of said pockets and to said band; a tubular member between the apexes of said pockets and being open at the front medial line of said garment; a cord extending through said tubular member and protruding through said opening; and sling-like means extending from said under arm seams and being connected to said cord.

2. A garment comprising a body encircling band, means to secure the same around the body of the wearer, said band having breast receiving pockets terminating in an under arm seam; shoulder straps connected at one end to the apex ofsaid pockets; a cord attached at its ends to the apexes of said pockets; and sling-like means extending from said under arm seams and slidably connected to said cord.

3. A garment comprising a body encircling band, means to secure the same around the body of the wearer, said band having breast receiving pockets terminating in an under arm seam; shoulder straps connected to the apex of said pockets and to said band; a tubular member between the apexes of said pockets and being open at the front medial line of said garment; a cord extending through said tubular member and protruding through said opening; adjustable slinglike means connected at its ends to said under arm seams and at its other end to a medial point underneath said breast receiving pocket and at the lower side thereof; another adjustable slinglike means connected at its ends to the medial points of said pockets; and meansslidably connecting the free ends of said last mentioned slinglike members to said cord.

4. A garment adapted to encircle the body of the wearer in the bust region, including breast receiving pockets connected to each other, and a body encircling band adapted to pass around the body of the wearer and associated with said pockets; shoulder straps to support said pockets and band; a sling-like element connected at one of its ends to opposite sides of said band at substantially the under arm portion thereof and at its respective other end to a point substantially underneath a medial point of said breast receiving pockets and at the lower side thereof; other sling-like elements connected at one of its respective ends to said band at a medial point underneath said breast receiving pocket and at the lower side thereof; and a flexible member connected to said band at the front portion thereof and substantially at the line of connection of said shoulder straps therewith and slidably connected to the other ends of said last mentioned sling-like elements.

5. A garment comprising a body encircling band provided wtih breast receiving pockets; shoulder straps connected to said band to support the same about the body of a wearer in the bust region; a tape member connected at its ends to the apex of the breast receiving pockets; and a sling-like member slidably connected to said tape at substantially the medial portion thereof and at its other ends to said band at a point substantially underneath the arm of the wearer.

6. In a garment of the type described, a pair of breast receiving pockets formed to receive the breasts of the wearer and having an apex at the top of each pocket and a V-shaped portion between said apexes and connected by a body encircling band; shoulder straps extending from said apexes to support said band; a cord extending from said apexes and along said V-shaped portion; and a sling-like element adjustably connected to said cord at-substantially the base of said V-shaped portion and extending underneath the breast receiving pockets and secured at its ends to said band at a point substantially under the arms of the wearer.

7. The structure recited in claim 6 characterized in that the sling-like element is attached at a point underneath a medial point of said reast receiving pockets.

8. The structure recited in claim 7, characterized in that the sling-like elements are adjustable between the point of connection at the medial point of said breast receiving pockets and the connection between the tape member; and independently adjustable between the point of connection underneath the arm and its connection at a point underneath a medial point of said breast receiving pockets.

9. A garment comprising a body encircling member provided with breast receiving pockets; said pockets being constructed to receive the breasts of the wearer and having an apex at the top portion thereof and a V-shaped portion between said apexes; shoulder straps connected to said apexes to support said garment about the body of the wearer; a tubular element extending substantially from said apexes V-shaped portion; a cord extending through said tubular member and attached at its ends to 0pposite apexes of said pockets and protruding from said tubular member at substantially the mid-portion thereof; and a sling-like elementv 11. The structure recited in claim 10 characterized in the sling-like element is adjustable between its connection with one under arm seam and its connection with said tape.

OSCAR HAY.

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